Latin Wave film fest washes over Houston

Published 1:37 pm, Thursday, May 1, 2014

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Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) tells the story of nine-year old Junior (Samuel Lange), who dreams of straightening his dark, curly locks and dressing like a pop singer. His mother Martha (Samantha Castillo), wants Junior to stop preening and is overly harsh with her son. less

Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) tells the story of nine-year old Junior (Samuel Lange), who dreams of straightening his dark, curly locks and dressing like a pop singer. His mother Martha (Samantha Castillo), wants Junior ... more

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Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) tells the story of nine-year old Junior (Samuel Lange), who dreams of straightening his dark, curly locks and dressing like a pop singer.

Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) tells the story of nine-year old Junior (Samuel Lange), who dreams of straightening his dark, curly locks and dressing like a pop singer.

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Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) tells the story of nine-year old Junior (Samuel Lange), who dreams of straightening his dark, curly locks and dressing like a pop singer.

Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) tells the story of nine-year old Junior (Samuel Lange), who dreams of straightening his dark, curly locks and dressing like a pop singer.

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Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) focuses on a young boy intent on straightening his kinky hair.

Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) focuses on a young boy intent on straightening his kinky hair.

R quiem NN (Requiem NN) portrays a community that defies the culture of violence by keeping alive the memory of the disappeared.

R quiem NN (Requiem NN) portrays a community that defies the culture of violence by keeping alive the memory of the disappeared.

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R quiem NN (Requiem NN) focuses on Puerto Berrio, where people adopt and baptize unidentified corpses and decorate and visit their graves as one would for a lost family member all because, according to their faith, this guarantees divine protection less

R quiem NN (Requiem NN) focuses on Puerto Berrio, where people adopt and baptize unidentified corpses and decorate and visit their graves as one would for a lost family member all because, according to their ... more

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Latin Wave film fest washes over Houston

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Tolerance, acceptance and the small differences that ultimately unite us are the overriding themes in this year's Latin Wave: New Films from Latin America.

The ninth annual festival includes films from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. It runs through Sunday.

"I'm excited about all of them," festival director Diana Sanchez says. "I think that 'The Mayor,' about a very unconventional Mexican politician, will spark a lot of debate. 'The Amazing Catfish' is a moving piece about how families are created and reflects some of the pervading themes of this year's festivals. 'Cristo Rey,' the Romeo and Juliet-like romance between a Haitian man and a Dominican woman, is especially relevant as it portrays the racism that separates these two cultures that share an island in the Caribbean."

Several of the filmmakers will be in attendance throughout the weekend for introductions and discussions. The Spanish-language films have English subtitles.

Friday

5 p.m. "Tanta Agua (So Much Water)": The absurdities, frustrations and hilarities of family vacations.

9 p.m. "Pensé Que Iba a Haber Fiesta (I Thought It Was a Party)": Lu (Valeria Bertuccelli) asks Ana (Elena Anaya) to house-sit while she goes away with her new fiancé. A lonely Ana strikes up an affair with Lu's ex-husband, which leads to a test of friendship. Director Victoria Galardi will introduce the film.

Saturday

1 p.m. "Cristo Rey:" A Caribbean version of the "Romeo and Juliet" tale.

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5 p.m. "Réquiem NN (Requiem NN)": Colombian artist Juan Manuel Echavarría Olano creates a documentary about the violent town of Puerto Berrío, where people adopt and baptize unidentified corpses then decorate and visit their graves as one would for a lost family member. Producer Margarita De la Vega Hurtado will introduce the film.

7 p.m. "La Jaula de Oro (The Golden Cage)": Three young Guatemalans, including a female disguised as a boy, attempt to cross the U.S. border from Mexico.

9 p.m. "Por las Plumas (All About the Feathers)": A comedic tale of a man and his loyal rooster. Director Neto Villalobos will introduce the film.

Sunday

1 p.m. "El Alcalde"

3 p.m. "Pensé Que Iba a Haber Fiesta"

5 p.m. "La Jaula de Oro"

7 p.m. "Pelo Malo (Bad Hair)": A 9-year-old boy dreams of straightening his curly locks and dressing like a pop singer in this exploration of burgeoning sexuality and gender roles.